"In the criminal justice system, sexually based offenses are considered especially heinous. In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit. These are their stories."

It Comes with the Badge

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Last Time:

As she sprayed Pam in to the frying pan she shook her head. "I won't have you sleeping down there when everyone else will be downstairs. Just let me dote on you for once, alright?"

Her mother nodded reluctantly. "If you insist."

"I do." She smiled.

__________________________________________________________________________

Chapter Twelve

Christmas Party

Olivia sighed sleepily as she rolled over and rested her head on Elliot's shoulder. He smiled down at her. "Good morning Beautiful."

Blushing softly, she smiled lethargically and sat up. "How long have you been up?"

He shrugged. "Two hours." Glancing at the clock, Olivia realized two hours ago was four a.m.

"Why were you up so early?"

Elliot frowned as she traced the lines of his tattoo on his forearm. "The case we're on."

She sat up and took his hand. "Tell me about it. I promise not to get involved..."

Nodding, Elliot sighed. "This guy targets girls who are just barely sixteen. The last two vics had their birthday just two days before their murder. The third victim went missing from her birthday party." He shook his head. "Sixteen. Can you imagine?"

Olivia started to gently massage his shoulders. "Kathleen's sixteenth isn't for two months. You'll get him before that."

"Yeah," he frowned, "I hope so."

A knock sounded on the door.

Olivia smiled. "Come in."

Kathleen entered in a pair of Levi's and pink tube-top. "Dad, can I go out with a couple of friends later today?"

Elliot turned to her. "It's Sunday."

"Yeah? And?"

"It's family day. Besides, we have Church at ten."

Kathleen sighed. "Later. After church."

Elliot raised an eyebrow. "I'll think about it."

She smiled and he interjected as she started to leave. "You...you're not leaving the house in that. You're not going to church like that and I'm going to approve anything you wear out tonight."

A bit of the present joy in her face faded. "Fine." She closed the door.

Olivia shook her head. "I know it's hard for you to let her out, but she's a teenager El, she has to live."

Elliot turned to Olivia again, the haunting case images flashing before him. "He's using Jerry's trademarks. White rose, stabbing them between the legs...but he keeps trophies."

'Don't ask. You don't want to know Olivia. Stop. Don't think about it.' She took a hesitant breath. "What kind of trophies?"

"Well..." he hesitated, "He takes their eyes."

Silence. A long, eerie and estranging moment of silence sat between the two cops. "God Elliot."

Elliot put a hand over his mouth. "It's a hard case for Serenity to start with but it's better than Sam. She would be working it non-stop until she burnt out. The vics are all blond-haired and blue-eyed. All about the same height...they all look like Alex if she were younger."

"God." That's all she could stomach saying. Trying to keep her stomach down, she shook her head. "You think its Velez?" She didn't know if she was stating the suspicion or actually asking him but he didn't answer. The answer was given. Of course it was. "You can't get him without involving the DEA."

He nodded. Taking a long breath he let it out loudly. "That's where Sam comes in. I've been talking with Andy and he thinks it's an idea. We're thinking about dying her hair and sending her out. Her grey eyes can be changed to blue with contacts. All the other agents there are too short or tall or heavy or muscular. Ryan's frail like Alex was."

"Is," Olivia corrected, "Like Christina is."

"Yeah." Elliot grimaced as he looked in to her eyes. "What do you think?"

Olivia sighed. She had two potential responses. She could be blunt and outright while risking Elliot's anger and Sam's friendship if she ever heard; or, she could straddle the fence and reply as an uninvolved party. But she was involved, Alex had been her friend and Ryan was her friend, now was not the time for impartiality.

Taking a very deep and long breath, she spoke. "I think that's bullshit. Ryan has never worked undercover on such a covert and vital operation before, Elliot. Putting her out there in a case that she's too emotionally involved in and using her as bait to be raped, the same way she was five years ago and is still traumatized about, is ludicrous and callous. I'd have thought more of you and your friend but obviously it's a woman thing. Can't you see she's still hurt over her rape? Can't you see how biased she is? I'd wager she'd blow Velez's head off before she was even introduced. You're crazy. Not to mention he's probably hiring someone to handle the murders, not killing the vics himself and that's ignoring the challenge of actually making her look sixteen. We don't know how the perp is picking up his victims."

Elliot took a moment to let her calm down. "We know he's doing them. He's left us a handwritten letter saying so. Quaintly, it was unsigned." He shook his head. "Thanks for being the voice of reason though. I don't know if it will work at all but Andy has faith..."

"Is it faith enough to risk Alex's return and Ryan's life? Do you really trust him that much? Because I sure as hell don't."

Standing wearily, Olivia headed downstairs. "I'm going to start breakfast."

Elliot nodded. "I've got to take a shower."

"I know." She smiled at him somewhat halfheartedly but walked out of the room quickly afterward.

***

Ryan left mass at 8 a.m. and took in a deep breath. Tomorrow was her new job; she should probably go shopping and buy something to help her look real nice. After carefully considering it for about a minute, she decided against it and went back to the manor. Last night she'd gotten Elliot and Fin to set up her punching bag since there was no way she could've lifted the thing off the ground. It was now hanging on the back porch.

Changing in to navy sweat pants and a white sports bra she headed out to the backyard. The black bag loomed before her, 100 pounds for her to take her aggression out on. She wrapped her hands and feet carefully before she started to punch it. A few kicks fell in between. Three nicely placed punches. She could feel herself getting hyped up.

***

Elliot smiled as Olivia fixed his tie and kissed his cheek. "Perfect."

She was wearing a cute black dress that was actually made to accent her pregnancy. He thought she looked gorgeous in it. "Are the kids ready?"

As if on cue, Olivia walked out of the room and in to the hall. "Kathleen?"

The fifteen year old ran out of her room in a knee length light blue skirt and a white collared shirt. "Yes?"

"Is your sister ready?"

Glancing back in to her room, she nodded. "Yup."

"Dickie!?"

The younger boy opened his door at the end of the hall. "Huh?" He was wearing his dress pants and a button down shirt with a tie.

Olivia smiled at him. "Just making sure that you're ready." She walked back in to her room. "All three are ready."

Taking a moment to check the time on his wristwatch, Elliot frowned. "We might be late. Could you herd all the kids out the door and towards the car? I'll be right down."

"Oh, sure." Olivia kissed his cheek and walked back into the hall. "Come on everyone! Time to leave! Get out to the car!" Both doors opened and the three kids filed out and down the stairs. Olivia held the door open for them as they piled in to Elliot's four-door.

Kathleen grinned. "I get shotgun!"

Elliot walked out and locked the door, clearing his throat. "Shotgun is for Olivia, you know that Kathleen."

She blushed softly. "Sorry, I forgot. I'm not used to her coming to church with us yet." Slinking sheepishly in to the backseat, Olivia frowned.

"Should I just stay home, Elliot?"

He gave her a look of concern. "No," he said with earnest. His voice softened, "No sweetheart. She just forgot; that's all. Come on." He put his arm around her as he escorted her around to the passenger's seat.

***

Ryan woke to her phone ringing. It was 6p.m. already. Her short nap had lasted way too long. "Jamerson." Her voice was dazed and filled with sleep.

"Mommy?"

She sat up immediately, wide-awake. "Mariah?"

The voice of her little daughter replied. "Mommy, can you come get me?"

"Oh, of course honey. Where's Daddy?"

Mariah sounded doubtful. "I think he's sleeping."

Cautiously and yet anxiously, Ryan nodded, "Alright, okay. Sweetheart, try to wake Daddy up while mommy finds her keys." Sam was running around her house looking for them.

When she reached the bottom floor, she almost ran in to Rick. "Hey, Ricky, have you seen my car keys?"

He smiled and nodded. "On the desk in the den, why? What's up?"

"Mariah's going to be over for dinner."

"No problem." Ricky followed him to the keys and then handed her her jacket as she headed out.

***

Olivia couldn't hide a grin as Elizabeth and Kathleen helped wash the dishes and refused to let her get anywhere near the kitchen. Elliot had tried to romance her upstairs to keep her off her feet but she'd caught on eventually. Refusing to allow them a victory, she'd started a load of laundry.

As she transferred the damp clothes to the dryer, Elliot crept up and kissed her neck softly. "You should really get off your feet. For me, sweetheart."

"Elliot!" She turned around and gasped. The three kids and Elliot were present. Elliot was on one knee with her left hand in his.

"Olivia..."

Kathleen grinned and Elizabeth was giggling excitedly. Dickie had his hands behind his back suspiciously.

Her heart was beating double time and her breathing was halted. "Elliot?"

Elliot smiled. "Liv? I've got something to ask you." He reached in to his pants' pocket and pulled out a ring box.

Olivia's eyes were wide with disbelief. 'He is going to ask me to marry him?' Swallowing hard, Olivia nodded for him to continue.

"Will you marry me?" He opened the box to reveal a white gold band and a marquise-cut diamond solitaire.

Taking in a ragged and weak breath, Olivia nodded. "Yes Elliot." Small tears swelled in her eyes, of course it was hormones, or at least she could blame them. Embracing him as soon as he got to his feet, Olivia laughed softly.

Kathleen smiled and Elizabeth was jumping up and down. "I want to be flower girl!"

Dickie looked cheery too, and he pushed between Elliot and Olivia to hug them individually. As he hugged Olivia, he pulled away and looked seriously up at her. For a small 10-year-old he did look serious. "I won't call you Mommy, Olivia."

She, with the aide of Elliot, got to her knees and nodded. "I know. Don't call me Mommy; I can't be Kathy for you. I'll just be your friend."

"Okay." He smiled, "That's good."

Elizabeth whined. "Do I get to be flower girl?"

Olivia laughed. "Have I missed all the planning already? We don't even have a date set yet!"

"After the baby's born." Elliot put a hand on her stomach. "So your wedding dress won't have to be altered."

"Of course!" A broad grin masked Olivia's face. She kissed Elliot deeply as Dickie made barfing sounds and then smiled. "I love you."

***

Ryan buckled Mariah in to her car seat and smiled. "We'll be home in a little bit, Daddy will call when he wakes up." Slamming the door on accident. 'Daddy won't wake up she'd said...' Ryan was fuming mad, 'He was bloody WASTED!' Cursing under her breath, she climbed in to the truck and started it up. "Honey, Mommy might be a bit busy tonight with work but I got you some new toys to play with in your room."

"Barbies?" She looked excited.

"Well," Sam smiled, "As a matter-of-fact, yes. I got you a new Barbie doll. I also got you some other things too. You'll see when you get home, okay?"

Mariah grinned broadly. "Okay."

Driving madly through the rain that had begun pouring, Ryan couldn't keep her temper in check. She knew she was speeding and she knew it was dangerous, but her temper was controlling her, not her brain.

Finally putting her anger behind her to ensure her daughter's safety, she slowed and sighed heavily. Mariah was sleeping already.

***

Olivia couldn't keep the smile off her face as Elliot put the kids to bed and walked in to the bedroom. His smile was more of a childish grin that she adored. Her future husband, her son growing inside of her...it was all too surreal. Suddenly the hair on the back of Olivia's neck stood on end. Too surreal. What if something went wrong? Elliot kissed her lips gently and smiled. "Sleep tight."

Taking his hand and kissing him, she smiled. "You too." Nothing would go wrong. She was finally happy, and she wasn't going to let anything ruin that for her. Ever.

~End Chapter 12~